7GTronic Transmission

[jubhi]

Folks,

For those of you in the know are there any known problems with the 7Gtronic transmissions that one should look out for?

I was in the dealers the other day and over heard a customer explaining something to the service man and it seemed he was talking about his auto box, he had a CLS320 CDI and it comes with the 7GTronic.

As I have the same gearbox I'm just asking the question as a precautionary measure.

Thanks in advance.

 

[slk350]

I've had my car for about 6 weeks now with 7G-Tronic and the only problem I am aware of is that I keep pulling the buttons behind the wheel as I fidget when driving. :roll:

Kev.

 

[gary350]

Had my SLK350 7g auto since aug 04 no problems and I do not know anyone that has had them. I drive everywhere in C mode its smoother.

gary

 

[NewMB]

My C class has this gearbox as well. Can get the occasional "jerk" when changing from 1st to 2nd gear. Most of the time it is very smooth and quick reacting when using manual override.

MB Colchester installed new software and it became much better.

 

[jberks]

there were problems with some early ones - clunky changes etc, but its all sorted now afaik and any problem ones were like that from day one so if yours is ok I would relax..

 

[jubhi]

Ok guys, thanks for the replies. What I have noticed on mine is the occasional jerky feeling just as I'm about to come to a stop at say traffic lights or a junction. This jerky feeling only comes now and then and is experienced when the car downshifts from 2nd gear to 1st gear just before I come to a complete stop. Is this normal and if so what do you think it is it related to? Do you guys experience this with your cars?

Thanks.

 

[slk350]

Which mode are you driving in?

I don't get this in mine but don't really use Manual mode that much (as I forget to change down :Oops.

Kev

 

[NewMB]

Ok guys, thanks for the replies. What I have noticed on mine is the occasional jerky feeling just as I'm about to come to a stop at say traffic lights or a junction. This jerky feeling only comes now and then and is experienced when the car downshifts from 2nd gear to 1st gear just before I come to a complete stop. Is this normal and if so what do you think it is it related to? Do you guys experience this with your cars?

Thanks.

I have this also on occasion. Not really jerky, just noticable from time to time.

All other shifts from 2nd to 3rd etc are seemless! Only way to tell would be through the rev needle.

 

[jubhi]

I have this also on occasion. Not really jerky, just noticable from time to time.

All other shifts from 2nd to 3rd etc are seemless! Only way to tell would be through the rev needle.

Totally agree mate, so I guess all is ok and normal then and is just a characteristic of the gearbox.

 

[jubhi]

Which mode are you driving in?

I don't get this in mine but don't really use Manual mode that much (as I forget to change down :Oops.

Kev

I always drive in 'S' mode. I have been advised you get more throttle response in this setting.

 

[NewMB]

I always drive in 'S' mode. I have been advised you get more throttle response in this setting.

I also always do "S" mode. Used "C" when car was new then changed as the previous is much better. No noticable difference in fuel consumption.

 

[gary350]

I always drive in 'S' mode. I have been advised you get more throttle response in this setting.

I used S at the start but kept finding myself up the back of the car in front around towns C is for older people like me.

gary

 

[moosehead]

Clunky downchange with my C230 7G when cruising downhill at slow speed. It only happened under certain conditions but when it did everyone in the car felt it. Booked it into the local dealer and they loaded new gearbox software under warranty. Seems to have resolved the problem. Apparently this is a common problem with the early 7Gs. Didn't seem to make any difference whether in 'C' or 'S' mode.

 

[jubhi]

Clunky downchange with my C230 7G when cruising downhill at slow speed. It only happened under certain conditions but when it did everyone in the car felt it. Booked it into the local dealer and they loaded new gearbox software under warranty. Seems to have resolved the problem. Apparently this is a common problem with the early 7Gs. Didn't seem to make any difference whether in 'C' or 'S' mode.

Right, that's two of you who have mentioned new gearbox software being loaded. Think I'll pop into the dealer tomorrow at lunchtime and get them to check it out. My car is a Jan 2007 56 plate.

How long did it take to get the new software loaded, is it something that could be done in an hour or so?

Thanks.

 

[NewMB]

Right, that's two of you who have mentioned new gearbox software being loaded. Think I'll pop into the dealer tomorrow at lunchtime and get them to check it out. My car is a Jan 2007 56 plate.

How long did it take to get the new software loaded, is it something that could be done in an hour or so?

Thanks.

Should only take around 1 hr or so.

The funny downchange at slow speed has happened on more than one occasion, even after new software.

 

[television]

Interesting reading on th progress of these boxes,, there has been at least 5 upgrades since the box came out.
Most problems or should one say slight jerky changes are more when the box is cold.
If any one has problems,just mention it when in for service, and they will update it

All of this post makes very different reading to the post of two years back

 

[hawk20]

Ok guys, thanks for the replies. What I have noticed on mine is the occasional jerky feeling just as I'm about to come to a stop at say traffic lights or a junction. This jerky feeling only comes now and then and is experienced when the car downshifts from 2nd gear to 1st gear just before I come to a complete stop. Is this normal and if so what do you think it is it related to? Do you guys experience this with your cars?

Thanks.

I had a new S class for a month last summer and that had the same problems you are describing. Then I had a GL and an ML on trial and both had the same jerky changes, just now and again, often slowing down at low speeds entering a roundabout or traffic lights. Then I had another S class for a couple of weeks and that was the same. Talked to a pretty senior technical expert who said they were still working on this and hoped to have updates by last Christmas. I haven't followed it since then. The mystery is why it only happens on some cars some of the time. In the early days it was most cars most of the time. So the updates have certainly helped.

Oddly the CVT auto box on my A class is smoother than the S class. And IMO my old model S320cdi with a 5 speed box was smoother than the 7 speed. And better. With all the torque on tap, there was just no need for 7 gears IMO other than the silly arms race with BMW and Lexus.

 

[jubhi]

Interesting reading on th progress of these boxes,, there has been at least 5 upgrades since the box came out.
Most problems or should one say slight jerky changes are more when the box is cold.
If any one has problems,just mention it when in for service, and they will update it

All of this post makes very different reading to the post of two years back

Yes driving in this morning to work I have noticed it more and it is quite cold this morning, frost/ice on cars.

I have spoken to one dealer this morning over the phone and he said they don't have any software updates for the CLK and that they only have them for the E-Class and S-Class. I found that quite odd considering they have the same gearboxes.

 

[television]

Yes driving in this morning to work I have noticed it more and it is quite cold this morning, frost/ice on cars.

I have spoken to one dealer this morning over the phone and he said they don't have any software updates for the CLK and that they only have them for the E-Class and S-Class. I found that quite odd considering they have the same gearboxes.

He is telling you porkies

 

[SLinKyjoe]

email customer services and see what there reply is, they will update your dealer if they have not been informed. email address on www.mercedes-benz.co.uk contact page.

In "C" you set off in second unless you really press the throttle a bit far then you will feel it change to first. It holds the gears a bit longer when cold to help the engine warm up quicker. the jerkyness is related to this bit of control software.

If you drive in "S" the same occurs when cold, but the vehicle will change down when it senses a corner approaching or it thinks you need a lower gear. Its also programmed to sense keeping a lower gear for longer, or not changing up to higher gears at the lowest revs it can unlike "C".

However, both modes are related to throttle input. So if you drive like an old granny in "S" it will act like "C". If you press on along some country lanes in "S" you will notice it holds higher revs, and may stay in gear for sometime, it will change down at higher revs to give you more boot when exiting a corner. In "C" it won't, will will always hunt for the higher gear.

Thats the learning part of the gearbox bit they bang on about.

If you driver hard in "S" for a while, you will see, then leave it in "S" and drive like an old granny and you will see it change up earlier again and hold onto the higher gears longer again. All in the same drive.

You only get sharpened throttle response changes with the AMG spec and even then it cheats. It just reduces the pedal travel distance input to make you think its doing something else.